William c



(No Model.) I v I W. O. M INTIRE.

- DEAL INDICATOR FOR CARD PLAYERS. No. 436,739. Patented Sept. 16, 1890.

FIG. I.

ATTE ST INVENTOR.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM C. MCINTIRE, OF IVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

DEAL-INDICATOR FOR CARD-PLAYERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,739, dated September 16, 18190.

Application filed November 17, 1888. Serial No. 291,096. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. MCINTIRE, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vashington city, in the District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Deal-Indicators for Card-Players, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a novel device for registering or indicating the deal in any ordinary game of cards.

It has for its obj ect to provide a means which shall avoid the usual controversy as to Whose deal is it? and to provide a mechanism which shall positively indicate the location of the deal in regular succession; and with these ends in View my invention consists of a series of indicators combined with an ordinary cardtable, and so constructed and arranged that each indicator shall in succession be projected above the plane of the table while all the others remain coincident with the top surface of the table, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

My invention also consists of the details of construction and the mechanism for connecting and operating the several indicators, as will be hereinafterdescribed, and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents in perspective the top of an ordinary card-table with my improved indicators connected therewith, a portion of the tabletop being cut away to expose two of the indicators and the connection thereof. Fig. 2 shows the table-top in section with two indicators in position'and the frame of the righthand indicator removed, exposing the mechanism thereof to view, while the left-hand indicator is shown in elevation at an angle transverse to the other. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the indicators and its connections, the table-top being shown in vertical section; and Fig. 4, a vertical section taken on the line a: as of Fig. 2.

Similar letters indicate like parts in the several figuresw A represents the top of an ordinary table of any design capable of use for cards.

At suitable points, and at as many as will correspond with the number of players for whose use the table is intended, are formed vertical channels of any desired shape in cross-section adapted to receive the vertically-movable indicator, and below such channels are arranged on the under side of the table the indicator mechanism, which consists of a plate B, formed with or to which is connected a hanger or frame O, the bottom of which is formed wit-h an orifice through which the lower end of the indicator shank or bolt D passes and by which it is guided, the plate B also having an orifice for the passage of the upper portion of the bolt. Thebolt D is made cylindrical or of any other desired shape throughout its upper portion, the lower portion to the extent of its movement through the bottom of the frame 0 being square or of such other shape as will prevent axial movement of the bolt. This'boltD is provided on one side with a notch or shoulder a, adapted to receive the lip of a spring-latch b, so that the bolt when pressed down to the level of the top of the table will be caught and secured in such position as shown at the right-hand side of Fig. 2.

Transverse to the movement of the springlatch'b the bolt D is provided wit-h a slot within which is pivoted a gravity-pawl E, (see Fig. 4,) the operating end of which is formed with a beveled lip c and the rear or opposite portion being weighted. Underneath this pawl and between a suitable pin or shoulder and the bottom plate of the frame 0 is arranged around the bolt B a coil-spring F, which causes the bolt to be projected above the top plane of the table whenever the spring-latch b is withdrawn from the shoulder or notch a in the side of the bolt. The spring-latch b is arranged to move through one side of the bolt-frame O and a plate or arm cl parallel therewith, a suitable coilspring being arranged around the body of the latch in any well-known manner to operate the same. At an angle (preferably a right angle) to the spring-latch b is arranged upon a hanger G a bell-crank lever H, having one arm thereof beveled to correspond with the lip c of the gravity-pawl E and the other arm adapted for attachment with oneend of a pull-wire I, the other end of which is connected with the spring-latch b.

This completes the mechanism, and the operation is as follows: The spring bolts or indicators D being all set level with the top of the table, except the one to the right hand of the first dealer, the mechanism is ready for use. When the first dealer begins, he places the pack of cards upon the top of the bolt D to his right hand to be cut. The weight of the cards or the pressure exerted upon them depresses the bolt D to the position most plainly seen at Fig. 4, and in its descent the under side or horizontal portion of the pawllip 0 comes in contact with the straight upper face of the free arm of the bell-crank lever I-I, causing said lever to vibrate and the connecting-wire I to move in the direction indicated by the arrows. About the time that this action takes place, or shortly afterward, the bolt D has reached that position 'in which the lip of the spring-latch b is free to move into the notch or over the shoulder a in the side of the bolt D, thus locking the latter in its downward position. In themeantime the spring-latch b of the next succeeding bolt has been withdrawn from its notch or shoulder, and the bolt D being released, is automatically forced upward and in such position to the right of the next dealer it serves to locate the nextdeal. This operation and action are repeated successively as each upwardly-projecting bolt is depressed.

I have described the location of the several indicators as being to the right of the players, but they may be placed immediately in front of the players or in any other arbitrary position; and While I have shown the mechanism described for operating the several indicators it will be understood that other means may be employed for releasing the indicator-bolts successively-for instance, the several latches may be successively drawn to release the bolts or indicators D through the medium of electricity. 7

As the indicators are connected with each other through the medium of wires I, it will be understood that they may be located upon tables of varying diameters and at varying distances apart by simply cutting the Wires proper lengths, and if deemed necessary any suitable adjustable or take-up device may be employed in connection with the wire to compensate for expansion.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with a card-table, a se ries of vertically-movable deal-indicators connected with each other successively by looking and releasing mechanism, substantially such as described, whereby the downward movement of one indicator will release the next one in advance, as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

2. A deal-indicating mechanism consisting of the spring-bolt D, arranged within a suitable case and provided with the pawl E, spring F, and spring-latch b, in combination with suitable mechanism for releasing the latch b, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

3. In a deal-indicator mechanism, the gravity-pawl E, arranged pivotally within the bolt D and having its projecting lip c beveled as described, in combination with the bell-crank lever H, having its free arm beveled reversely to the lip c and its opposite arm constructed for connection with a suitable pulling-Wire,

substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WM. 0. MoINTIRE.

Witnesses:

E. EVERETT ELLIS, CURTIS LAMMOND. 

